Pastoral Reflections 

"This Do in Remembrance: Pledge!"

     The NDBC mailbox is a part of my regular Sunday morning routine as I walk the hallways of the building. Over the years, I've noticed an envelope arriving every few weeks, often on Sundays, from Elaine Smith. It was her monthly offering.

     Elaine Smith's funeral was this past Saturday. She was Cheryl Dewell's mother, Allyson's grandmother, and Betty Almeida's sister. She was also a Beckham; and the Beckhams have been a part of Northside Drive Baptist since the beginning. Look for their names on our 1952 charter.

     During the funeral, it was noted that one way she loved her church was through financial contributions. I want to add a P.S. She not only contributed, she pledged. Pledging is what our church asks of all members each year. The voice of that request is the Finance Committee. From the pledges, the Finance Committee calculates a "bold and faithful, yet reasonable and doable" budget for the coming year. Then the whole church votes on it.

     The pledging push is part of the pragmatics of doing church. But it is more than that. It is spiritual; and spirituality is about commitment and covenant; and it is about God. It is a spiritual thing to commit to one's values for the year ahead.

     We do so when we buy a washing machine, and then promise to pay for it next month. We do so when buying a car, and commit to the last payment three years later. Plus, we pledge half our lives as we sign on the dotted line with long-term mortgages.

     Even if the Finance Committee didn't ask for it, I still think a pledge card is an important symbol of spirituality. I say this every October and November as we start our pledging campaign; but I also want to say it this year at the tail-end.

     On behalf of a proud and grateful congregation, thanks to each of you who have pledged. According to Chairperson Jack Guynn, we are nearly there! As the Finance Committee closes-out the process, if you haven't done so, please make your 2015 pledge today.

     And when you do so, offer these words: "This do in remembrance of Elaine." Amen.

January 21, from 1-2:30 PM

In the Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

@ 6:45 PM in the Fellowship Hall

     This is your opportunity to be updated on the works of the Ministry Teams and Committees of the church. Come see and hear what's going on with NDBC church ministry programs!

SAVE THE DATE...January 25

Our Annual "Souper Bowl Sunday"

     Volunteers are needed to either prepare a pot of soup or chili, or to bake cookies or brownies! If you are not fond of cooking we can always use help with set-up or clean-up. Whatever your talents are, join us that day for fellowship and fun. The donations we collect that day help support the Hunger Fund. To volunteer contact Mona Stines at mona.stines@att.net or 404-936-8812.

Sundays @ 9:30 AM

in the Art & Soul classroom #202  

January 4-February 8, 2015

     Do you want to know how we got our Bible? Dr. Larry McSwain and Dr. Steven Sheeley will co-lead a six-week Church School session January 4-February 8. Join us in the Art & Soul classroom #202, at 9:30 AM, on Sundays for this special class.

The course topics include: 

• How We Got the Latin Bible: Formation of the Vulgate
• with Dr. Steven Sheeley
• How We Got the Early English Bibles
• with Michael Morgan
• Modern English Bibles
• with Dr. Larry McSwain
• How to Select a Modern Translation/Transliteration/ Paraphrase
• with Dr. Steven Sheeley

Baptist Women in Ministry Celebrates the Gifts of Preaching Women

Sunday Morning Worship @ 11 AM

February 15, 2015

    Beginning in 2007, Baptist Women in Ministry invited Baptist churches to participate in Martha Stearns Marshall Month of Preaching by having a woman preach during the month of February. This annual event has been a deeply significant source of joy and discovery for many churches as they have celebrated the giftedness of women. This annual preaching month is named for Martha Stearns Marshall, an eighteenth-century Separate Baptist woman.

   Our guest BWIM preacher this year is Paula Clayton Dempsey, Director of Partnership Relations for the Alliance of Baptists during the 11 AM service on Sunday, February 15, 2015.

     Dempsey has degrees from Meredith College and Southeaster Baptist Theological Seminary. She has served as a local church pastor, a director of Christian social ministries, a college chaplain, a hospice chaplain, coordinator of a spirituality center and is a wife and mother. She has also deepened her sense of calling to the contemplative dimension of the Gospel by studying with Contemplative Outreach and The Shalem Institute. 

Church Council*

       *The Church Council consists of the Moderator, Senior Pastor, Treasurer, and Church Clerk, the chairs of the Diaconate, the Finance, Personnel, and Nominating Committees, the Adult Education, Children's, Communications/Technology, Facilities Management, Grounds, Landscaping, Hospitality, Marketing, Membership Development, Memorial Gifts, Missions, Preschool Liaison, Worship & Music, and Youth Ministry Teams, and the Auxiliary Triple E.

     We meet weekly from 10:30-11:30 AM, in the church's Conference Room. We study the texts selected in the Revised Common Lectionary for the next Sunday. Large print editions are available each week and for the upcoming Sunday. Discussion is deep and wide and lively. All are invited.

April 24-26, 2015

Blue Boar Retreat

Robbinsville, North Carolina

SPACE & TIME ARE LIMITED

  Reservation deadline is Sunday, February 15. Make your reservation with a $100 deposit (made out to Joyce Wilson) & give it to Joyce Wilson or Virginia Gilbert.

For more information: Joyce Wilson (770)773-3333

Virginia Gilbert (770) 333-8933

Submit YOUR pledge FOR

THE 2015 CHURCH BUDGET

through any of these ways:

   1- You can return your pledge card by "snail mail".

   2- You can pick up a pledge card at the door of the church office, fill it out on the spot, and leave it in the envelope on the Business Manager's (Rose Hidlay) door.

   3- You can pick up a pledge card in the Narthex, fill it out and drop it in the offering plate (or hand it to an Usher).

   4- You can call the church office (404-237-8621), ask for Rose, and tell her your pledge (or even leave her a voice mail).

   5- You can e-mail your pledge to Rose at rose@northsidedrive.org.

   6- You can pledge via our website (www.northsidedrive.org) by clicking on the "Giving" link on our home page.

     Northside Drive Baptist Church seeks part-time childcare workers for Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. One worker is needed to assist with the care of toddlers and/or preschool-aged children from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM each Sunday. We also need one worker each Wednesday evening from 5:15 PM to 8:30 PM to assist with the care of children of a variety of ages. We are open to hiring one person to work both Sundays and Wednesdays or hiring one person for Sundays and one person for Wednesdays. Duties will include childcare for various ages as well as responsibility for the safety and cleanliness of the nursery and preschool room. Compensation begins at $12 an hour.

     Interested persons should send inquiries and resumes to Dr. Michael Gregg at mike@northsidedrive.org. A criminal background check will be required of final candidates.

SUNDAY, January 18

  9:30 AM - Church School

11:00 AM - Morning Worship

12:15 PM - Adult Education Ministry Team

  5:00 PM - Northside Drive Ringers

MONDAY, January 19

  Office Closed for MLK Day

TUESDAY, January 20

10:00 AM - Staff Meeting

12:00 PM - ROMEOS

WEDNESDAY, January 21

10:30 AM - Pastor's Bible Study

 1:00 PM - NDBC Book Club

 6:45 PM - Church-in-conference

 7:00 PM - Prayer Shawl Ministry

 7:30 PM - Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal

     As a rule of thumb, we will not cancel worship services on Sunday morning except under the most extreme weather conditions. Members are urged to use their own good judgment as to whether they should attempt to make the trip. Should inclement winter weather cause the cancellation of a service, here is the plan:

1) The ministers and the moderator will make the decision.

2) The ministers and the moderator will notify the deacons.

3) The ministers will email all those on the church's email list, and place a notification on the church's voice mail (if electricity and phone service are available).

4) The deacons will call members who need to be notified, but do not have email.